As healthcare becomes more tech savvy, doctors must get themselves better equipped with technologies that are replacing something as basic but important in services as writing out a prescription. An e-prescription is a computer generated(digitally prescribed), transmitted and filed out medical prescription. Its main aim is to reduce paper prescriptions, and the risk of error associated with written prescriptions. The main risk of a handwritten prescription is that it may be illegibly written, which might lead to being improperly interpreted by the pharmacist, ultimately proving bad services to the patient. Also, a paper prescription having the risk of being misplaced or be damaged. E-prescriptions do not have the risk of being misinterpreted or damaged. Hence, medical records can be maintained perfectly. The aim of an e-prescription is electronic exchange of prescription between physician and pharmacies1. This allows the patient’s prescription to be analysed by doctors in continuity, which enables the doctor to know the efficacy of drugs. Pharmacies benefit equally as they will have all the information of particular drug usage, its availability and clinically proven efficacy and popularity. Research has concluded that electronic prescriptions can have huge benefits for health care providers and patients. Let’s consider the advantages for patients, physicians, pharmacies, hospitals, medical staff by the use of e-prescriptions.

Features

Available Online

e-Prescription allows patients to connect with doctors and take prescription without visiting hospital / clinic.

Extended Reach

Hospitals, Clinics, Doctors can be reached easily by patients.

New Revenue Chanel

e-Prescription allows more patients to connect, Therefore it opens new revenue chanels for Hospitals / Clinics.

Manage patients

It keeps all the patients information on healthcloud and can generate reports.

Access clinical health profile

Patients can view clinic / hospital health profile based on various factors.

Realtime Notifications

Patients can recieve sms notifications from their doctor.

Benefits for patients

The doctor or an assistant typing the prescription takes lesser time than writing the prescription with paper and pen. This also allowes minimal wait at the pharmacies. This allows the pharmacy, some time to acquire the drug in case of unavailability, before the patient reaches the pharmacy.

E-prescriptions are not sent via internet or email id, but via secure, private networks. Patients can see their prescription on smart phones or Patient computers.

The treating physician can check the drugs under insurance cover for the given patient and hence prescribe cost effective medication for the patient.

Benefits for Physicians

Easy access to patient’s entire current and past drug history, which is helpful in changing prescriptions.

Reminders from the electronic system can help the doctor prevent mistakes in prescribing drugs with similar names.

Benefits for Pharmacies

Pharmacies can check the availability of the prescribed drugs and in case of unavailability send a request to the physician to change the prescription or refill the stock till the patient comes.

E-Prescription can significantly improved work flow, accuracy of prescriptions and co-ordination among pharmacists and doctors.

Benefits for Hospitals

A study conducted in a public sector hospital concluded that patient information like name, age, gender, address was found in 100% of electronic prescriptions. Prescription errors pertaining to concentrations, quantity and rate of administration of drugs were absent in e-prescriptions.The incidence of prescription overdose was 18-29% in manual, as against only 8% in semi or fully automated system. Thus, e-prescription are a win-win method for everybody involved in the healthcare chain, enabling better communication among doctors and pharmacies, ensuring knowledgeable decision making taken in the best interest of the patient while saving time and money.